Professor R J Rao completed his B.Sc. (1976) from Andhra University, M.Sc. (1978) and Ph.D. (1984) from Bhopal University. After submitting his Ph.D. thesis he joined Wildlife Institute of India as Research Fellow to conduct post-doctoral research work on Ecology of aquatic animals in the National Chambal Sanctuary. He joined School of Studies in Zoology, Jiwaji University, Gwalior in January 1989. He has completed research projects from MOEF, UGC, MOA, MPCST, UNDP-GOI, GCA, and DEC. His field of research is primarily on Wildlife Biology and Management and other research interests are Conservation Biology, Environmental Impact Assessment, Zoo management, Conservation and management of Aquatic resources, Human Ecology etc. He has supervised a number of Ph.D., M. Phil. and PG students. Dr. Rao has published more than seventy five research papers in National and internationally reputed journals. His research work was recorded as significant contribution in Encyclopedia Britannica, in 1990. He received advanced research training on Ecohydrology in Europe (1999) and Conservation GIS in USA (2005) through UNEP and UNESCO fellowships. He visited many countries including USA, UK, Italy, France, Australia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Poland, Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Kenya, Senegal, Nepal etc. for participating in scientific programmes. He organised several scientific programmes like seminars, conferences, workshops, training programmes and important days of scientific significance. Dr. Rao is on the reviewer panel for a number of journals. He is member of several International and National committees and organisations. He worked as Director, Indira Gandhi Academy of Environment, Ecology, Research and Ecoplanning, Dy. Director, Institute of Distance Education in Jiwaji University. He is Coordinator, UGC-SAP DRS III in School of Studies in Zoology, Jiwaji University, Gwalior.